196 MOSTLY ABOUT TROUT 



the Malays helped them to feel the least little 

 tug, and instantly they hauled up, hand over 

 hand, got their fish to the surface and into 

 the boat, without leaving them time to diagnose 

 the situation. Well, if catching fish is the only 

 object of the fisherman, no matter how they 

 are caught, I think that about twenty fish 

 weighing 400 Ib. in an hour and a quarter should 

 satisfy anyone. 



But, from the sportsman's point of view, 

 Simon's Bay has better to offer when the 

 " snook " is about. Let me introduce him. 

 On your way through the street of the little 

 town you will notice him first with your nose. 

 You will then see him hanging up, split open 

 and smoked, by the sides of many doorways 

 of houses and shops ; and when properly cured 

 and cooked, " Cape snook " is by no means to 

 be despised. You may have a talk with some 

 expert who warns you to beware of being bitten 

 when you are extricating your hook from the 

 mouth of a snook. You will see a Malay fisher- 

 man, Directly he gets one into the boat, clasp 

 it firmly under his left arm to hold its head 

 steady ; then a tremendous blow on the top of 

 the fish's head with a boat's stretcher, belaying- 

 pin, or what-not, to stop the snapping of its 

 jaws, and then the hook can be safely removed. 



